Ryan splits with GOP leadership

It’s the first true test of Rep. Paul Ryan’s power upon his return to Congress.

Fresh off his vice presidential bid, the Wisconsin Republican will go up against House Republican leadership and offer public support for Georgia Rep. Tom Price in his race to be the next House Republican Conference chairman, sources tell POLITICO. Leadership hasn’t publicly chosen sides, but it’s the Capitol’s worst kept secret that top Republicans prefer Washington State Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers for the spot.

McMorris Rodgers has the edge heading into Wednesday’s scheduled vote, according to Republican insiders. She would be the only woman in the top ranks of the House GOP leadership.

Ryan’s support for Price was known when he was on the campaign trail, but was somewhat of a side note as he ran alongside Mitt Romney for the White House.

But on his second day back in Washington, Ryan’s split from powerful Republicans is certain to draw more attention.

Sources close to Ryan said he committed to Price before being tapped as Mitt Romney’s running mate, and he is now following through on that pledge by being vocal in his support for the Georgia Republican.

It also comes on the same day that Ryan told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he would support increasing government revenue, but not raise tax rates — a comment seen as cover for Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to pursue a budget deal with President Barack Obama and Democrats.

Readers' Comments (87)

Time to get rid of the GOP establishment. The real conservatives won the house back in 2010 and the Establishment GOPers ruined it. Time to get a true conservative in theirand save what is left from the socialist democrats, who by the way HATE GOD.

The GOP leadership needs to stop catering to their lunatic fringe and marginalize them to minimize the damage they can cause. then maybe you will start bringing the true Republicans back to the party that left them when they went for entertainment rather then governing

Ryan will have trouble winning his seat in 2014 unless he becomes more of a moderate, which isn't going to happen. He would not win a state wide election here in Wisconsin. I just don't see him in any more prominent positions in congress and he may fade away into obscurity due to his performance in the presidential campaign.

Duh, Thats called a widows peak.....Ryan was offered the V.P. slot August 19 th and quit answering media questions in early October .......Chow, maybe he could get a flight on Newt Gingrichs " moon unit " cheese one.

I love how conservatives are crying about the need for "real conservatives" to "take back the government". I love the delusion that somehow this is a "biblical" nation. Televangelicals have been laughing all the way to the bank over these stupid sheep.

Please keep running the Bachmanns, the Santorums, the Huckabees...Keep your party small-tented and insular by ignoring data, facts, logic, polls and reason. Please keep deluding yourself that god is on your side and that fundamentalist Christianity should be an active part of everyday life for all Americans. Please keep doing all these things...We want to see you fail. We want to see your "movement" turn to dust. We want to see progress that triumphs adversity, which is you. We want to watch Fox News's conservative circle**** collapse into exactly what it is. Angry old men manipulating other angry old men.

Ryan is responsible for all of that debt since he voted for all of it with NO thoughts whatsoever of how it woutd be paid for and no concern either since it was Cheney and his party that stated deficits DO NOT MATTER.

So basically this yutz is holding onto that same OLE' repuk BS, white men only club. Kewl, the repuks really need to continue excluding everyone that make up the United States and those people ARE NOT just white aging males. DAYUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Ah, the American Taliban is doubling down and refusing to accept the reality of this election........We "Godless" types who stood in line to vote against whacko's overtaking our Constitution with their need to control women, suppress and harass minorities..............Mr. Ryan and Mr. Santorum and all the rest need to remember that freedom of...and from religion is in our Constitution....Maybe someone needs to read it to them.......

As far as the fiscal cliff--voters said taxes SHOULD go up on the wealthier members of our society.....If you can't recognize reality, maybe you should resign Congress and check yourself into a reality rehab.......

Most voters are sick of this crowd--redistricting is the only reason we are stuck with them yet again......

Ryan has been proven to be nothing more than a loudmouth spewing numbers that aren't based on simple arithmetic. He barely held onto his own seat in WI and couldn't deliver the state for his ticket. So, someone please explain where this "power" is coming from. I guess a lifetime of work in the government is now applauded by the GOP instead of derided.